Name Hauk Succeeded by Skjold | Operators Royal Norwegian Navy Subclasses Super-Hauk | |
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Builders Bergens Mek Verksteder,
Westamarin A/S, Alta In commission 1977-2001, 2001-2008 (Super-Hauk) | ||
Hauk-class patrol boats were a series of Norwegian fast attack craft. Hauk means hawk in Norwegian. They were ordered in the 1970s and the first boat, Hauk, was commissioned on 17 August 1977. Designed as a development of the Storm- and Snøgg-class, by Lieutenant-commander (later Captain) Harald Henriksen, the 14 Hauk class vessels made up the Coastal Combat Flotilla, responsible for protecting the rugged coastline of Norway. The ships were modernized frequently and in their later form were known as "Super-Hauks." The Royal Norwegian Navy deployed four of these warships for anti-terror patrol in the Strait of Gibraltar.
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To ensure that their capability met contemporary standards the Hauk class boats were modernized to Super-Hauk standard with the arrival of the new and more modern Skjold class MTBs. This modernization included incorporation of the Senit 8 CMS, Link 11 (receive only), modifications of the Penguin missiles and upgrades to the navigation equipment.
All the boats were decommissioned by 2008.
International operations
The vessels were used as escort for allied vessels through the Strait of Gibraltar as part of Operation Active Endeavour. The Norwegian contribution consisted of 21 MTB Squadron and its four vessels. The squadron was stationed in Cadiz along with two Danish vessels of Flyvefisken class. The mission lasted from April to October 2003, and the vessels were widely praised for their efforts.
In November 2006, the vessels were probably once called for international duty when 22 MTB squadron became part of UNIFIL II - a maritime UN contributions in the coastal area outside Lebanon that would prevent arms smuggling in the area. The vessels were stationed in Limassol in Cyprus .